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CNN Live Saturday

Protesters in New York Demonstrate Against Israel

Aired April 06, 2002 - 22:09   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: In New York, a small army of police officers were on hand, as hundreds of protesters marched across the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall, also demonstrating against Israel and their action in the occupied territories.

And CNN's Brian Palmer has more now on the battle lines that are being drawn in the Big Apple.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN PALMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Anger over the bloody conflict in the Middle East appears thousands of miles away in New York City. Supporters of the Palestinians protesting Israel's recent military actions.

Their language, loud and harsh. Their message, Israel is wrong. This Palestinian-American tells CNN his cousin was recently shot by Israeli soldiers in Ramallah.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Their onus now is on the aggressor, who is sending tanks, killing innocent civilians, and killing Palestinian children in cold blood. The International Community has to stand up for what's right.

PALMER: At an earlier press conference, New York politicians expressed the polar opposite view and pledged unqualified support for the Israeli government.

SEN CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: Give Israel the space it needs to defend itself from the suicide bombers.

PALMER: Aya Hatsan says her husband, Coby, a tour guide, was killed by a Palestinian sniper.

AYA HATSAN: We're willing to give them almost everything. Barak was to give Arafat everything. And it didn't take. It just didn't take until (INAUDIBLE).

PALMER: The pro-Palestinian protest continued into the evening at Times Square. The rhetoric rising and the baton set. From Times Square, they marched to the Israeli mission under tight police control. They were met by a small vocal group of counter protesters, waving the flag of Israel. There is no talk of negotiation of compromise, just plenty of shouting and promises of more to come. Brian Palmer, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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